GAME NOTES: A pair of top-level programs with go toe-to-toe in the 21st annual
Valero Alamo Bowl, as the 10th-ranked Oregon Ducks play the Texas Longhorns at
the Alamodome.

Even with the departure of Chip Kelly last offseason, Oregon came into the
2013 campaign with sky-high expectations and appeared to be one of the
favorites for the BCS Championship Game after an 8-0 start. The Ducks stumbled
in November however, with a pair of losses at Stanford (26-20) and Arizona
(42-16) to finish up 10-2.

"We had a tough four-game stretch here at the end of the season, stubbed our
toe a little bit," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. "But we'll be hungry to
get back out there."

"(This season) was tough and it was unfortunate," quarterback Marcus Mariota
added. "But we kind of put ourselves in this position."

Even with the disappointing finish, Oregon still reached the 10-win mark for
the sixth straight season and has played in a bowl game in 21 of the past 25
years.

After a slow 1-2 start to the season, Texas played itself back into the
picture in the Big 12 with a six-game winning streak, and even with a Nov. 16
loss to Oklahoma State (38-13), it was still in position to win the league
outright on the final day of the season but ultimately lost at Baylor, 30-10.
Following the regular season, Mack Brown announced his resignation after 16
years at the helm, although he will finish out his tenure by coaching this
matchup.

"It's sad to see him go," Texas running back Malcolm Brown said. "At the same
time, he's told us that it was his decision and that we just need to focus on
beating Oregon. That's the main priority right now. Like I said, that was his
decision, and it'll work itself out."

"(Brown's departure) can't change the way we prepare," quarterback Case McCoy
said. "We've got to go prepare like we have most of the year...It's a big bowl
game for us."

Texas leads the all-time series with Oregon, 4-1. The only meeting in the past
42 years came in the 2000 Holiday Bowl, when the Ducks defeated the Longhorns,
35-30.

Although the Ducks' offensive attack came up small in their two losses this
season, for the most part the unit has been nothing short of outstanding,
ranking second in the nation in yards per game (573.0) and third in points per
game (46.8).

Marcus Mariota orchestrated the offense under center and was one of the
nation's best, completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,412 yards with 30
touchdowns with just four interceptions, adding 582 rushing yards and nine
more scores on the ground. Mariota, once a projected first round pick in May's
NFL Draft, decided to return for his junior season in 2014, which is sure to
make the Ducks a top contender once again.

Oregon's rushing attack has been potent (278.3 ypg), but it might be without
Byron Marshall (995 yards, 14 TDs), who's listed as questionable with an ankle
injury. Luckily the team has plenty of horses in the stable, as Thomas Tyner
(689 yards, nine TDs) and De'Anthony Thomas (581 yards, eight TDs) have both
been impressive as well, each averaging at least 6.2 yards per carry.

Atypical of such a high-scoring team, Oregon played great defense this season,
allowing just 21.6 points per game while generating 27 turnovers.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (78 tackles, three INTs) earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors
and proved to be one of the nation's best shut-down corners. Derrick Malone
leads the unit with 102 tackles, while Tony Washington anchors the defensive
line with 12.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

As for Texas' offense, despite coming up small in the season finale against
Baylor (217 yards, 10 points), it still enjoyed a stellar season in scoring
31.2 points per game.

With David Ash lost for the season in mid-October, Case McCoy took over as the
full-time starting quarterback to middling success, completing less than 58
percent of his passes for 1,885 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The Longhorns were also bit by the injury bug in the backfield when Johnathan
Gray (780 yards, four TDs) went down for the year with a calf injury. Malcolm
Brown has taken over as the bell cow in his absence, turning 188 carries into
774 yards and nine touchdowns. Joe Bergeron (341 yards, four TDs) is also
mixed in, but he's listed as questionable with a foot injury.

Facing the high-flying offenses of the Big 12, the Longhorns' defense held
their own in allowing 25.5 points and 402.1 yards per game while forcing 26
turnovers.

Jackson Jeffcoat was a unanimous First Team All-American selection at
defensive end, as he racked up 80 tackles, 21 TFL, 12.0 sacks, three fumble
recoveries, a forced fumble, an interception and a blocked kick. Cedric Reed
(18 TFL, 9.0 sacks, four FF) was also dominant up front, while Duke Thomas led
the squad with three interceptions.

The Longhorns will certainly be playing with a chip on their shoulder in this
one wanting to give their head coach a strong bowl win to go out on, and that
incentive could be enough against an Oregon squad clearly disappointed with
its season and possibly already looking forward to 2014. In the end, however,
McCoy and the Texas offense simply don't have enough firepower to keep pace
with Mariota and company.